Bournemouth University has, for this year's final year students, six
ceremonies in November over three days, and one Ceremony in April 2000.
Each Nov ceremony is for between 300 and 500 students, and the April
Ceremony is for those finishing between 30.09.99 and 30.03.2000. (Possible
total of 3,055).

We currently write to all eligible students with a comprehensive information
pack in August/September, when the majority have finished, and include a
Registration Form, with a deadline for return.  We charge £5.00 for each
registration form received after the date stated.  

We do not charge the graduand for attending, nor their first two guests.
Because we use the Bournemouth International Centre we have plenty of room
and charge £5.00 a ticket for additional guest tickets.  The graduand
receives a free booklet (which is very smart and covers all the Ceremonies)
on their seat and we sell booklets to their guests - currently £4.00 each.
Any graduand that doesn't attend is sent theirs with their certificate after
the Ceremonies.

A seating plan is prepared and displayed outside the graduands entrance to
the Hall.  There are also plenty of general marshals pointing people in the
right direction and also course marshals who are always someone the
graduands knew at BU.  

In their 2nd pack the graduands are sent their tickets, indicating which
block and row to report to, plans of the venues, their guest tickets and
further information re the facilities on the day, car parking etc.

The Course marshals record attendance on a list of names which has already
been annotated - * those we haven't heard from, crossed through those who
have confirmed that they are not attending and we leave blank those we know
are attending.   No-one who is entitled to attend is refused entry and we
have procedures for late arrivals.

We have marshals meetings prior to the events and detailed information packs
for marshals.  A Deputy Chief marshal is available to advise and the Chief
Marshal (Master of Ceremonies) oversees the arrangements.  

Once the appropriate part of the Ceremony is reached the Course marshal
lines the graduands up and does a final check.  They then lead their course
to the stage and hand the correct fina list of names to be read out to the
Chief Marshal.  The Head of the appropriate School/course presents the
recipients, who cross the stage, collect their certificate and are met by a
marshal the other side and directed back to their seat.

The Heads of Schools are sent the lists prior to the Ceremonies so that they
can practise pronounciation, and we often change the reading lists so that
the names are shown as they are said, and not as they are read! 

Guest tickets are numbered.  We have found in the past that when the tickets
weren't numbered people would always leave a seat between themselves and
others, resulting in many people not being able to find seats with loads of
single seats dotted around the auditorium!

We seat disabled guests with their accompanying guests in the front rows and
if we are informed of any special circumstances we will accommodate - aisle
seats, near exits etc.  We will seat divorced parents with their new
partners at opposite sides of the hall.

It is up to individual Schools to organise pre-ceremony/post-ceremony
events.  More often than not, however, the complaints do not justify the
amount of time spent on organising these kind of teas/lunches etc.

However, with the initial pack is the information re the Graduation Ball
which is held at the BIC on the night of the last Nov ceremony.

Every effort is made to ensure that the graduands and their guests have a
thoroughly enjoyable day which they will remember for the rest of their
lives.  

If anyone of you would like additional information and/or to visit our
Ceremonies please do get in touch.

Jane McAlpine
Conferment Officer
Registry
Bournemouth University
7th Floor
Studland House
12 Christchurch Road
Bournemouth
Dorset     BH1 3NA

01202 503863 (direct dial)  


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